MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup: Indian Navy and Army reach semifinals

Indian Navy and Indian Army secured places in the semifinals of the 97th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup at the SDAT Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, October 29, 2026, after Navy beat the Malaysia Junior Team 4-2 and Army advanced following a 4-4 draw between Indian Railways and Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Navy clinched the second semifinal berth from Pool-B with the 4-2 victory over the Malaysia Junior Team, while Army progressed as the second qualifier from Pool-A after the Railways–PNB stalemate; PNB required a seven-goal winning margin to qualify but could not achieve it. Pool-B winners Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) topped that group, and Pool-A was led by defending champions Indian Railways.

Navy, which needed only a draw to advance, dominated the match and fashioned several chances. The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute when Bhavin Kushalappa scored, coming two minutes after Sushil Dhanwar had struck the left post.

Malaysia levelled in the 27th minute through Muhamad Harith, who scored from close range after having earlier sent a shot just over the bar. The lead changed again in the 30th minute when Sanjit Toppo’s drag-flick off Pawan Rajbhar’s penalty-corner delivery was deflected into the net by K. Selvaraj.

Pawan Rajbhar increased Navy’s advantage in the 36th minute with a close-range flick into the top of the net, and Nitesh made it 4-1 in the 43rd minute. Malaysia responded immediately when Muhammad Aizat reduced the deficit in the 44th, diving to push the ball past a defender from close range.

In Pool-A, Indian Railways and Punjab National Bank played out a 4-4 draw. Railways’ goals came from Sheshe Gowda (26-pc and 28-pc), Lovepreet Singh (31) and Jaswinder Singh (47); PNB’s scorers were Gursimran Singh (11-pc) and Naveen Antil, who struck in the 57th, 59th and 60th minutes.

Navy will meet Pool-A topper and defending champion Indian Railways in Saturday’s semifinal, while Pool-B winners BPCL will face the Indian Army in the other semifinal.